Fargo INC! December 2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS 2017

LET’S TELL YOUR STORY .

Get inspired at hashinteractive.com/videos

Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

editor's note

A CELEBRATION of You

O

ne of the very first things you're taught in journalism school is that, whether you're writing a 500-word recap of a city council meeting or a 10,000-word profile of a sitting president, you always need a throughline. "Throughline" is really just a fancy word for "thesis statement," which is itself just a dressed-up way of asking yourself, "What's my point?" As we were thinking about and planning "Faces of Fargo Business," we challenged ourselves to really think about the answer to that question and come up with a kind of throughline for this second annual year-end issue. Here's what we came up with.

1 In the spirit of the holiday season, this issue is our chance to slow down, reflect and remember why we do what we do.

We all spend much of our year running around to appointments, sitting in meetings and making deadlines. This issue is an opportunity to pause all that, be grateful for the year that was, and start

Nate@SpotlightMediaFargo.com 8

DECEMBER 2017

thinking about what we're excited for in the coming year.

Taking the time to actually sit down and go through all the content we produce in a year is such a meaningful experience and has a way of reminding us that all of this is ultimately about people and the connections we hope we have some small part in facilitating.

2 We want to put you front and center.

When we gauge success — specifically economic success — it's only natural that we default to things like numbers, growth rates and metrics. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but what can sometimes get lost is the actual people who are making it all happen. We hope we came up with a design that celebrates and humanizes this amazing business community.

about participating in stories. I can count on one hand the number of "no"s we've gotten. If ever there were a testament to this community's desire and willingness to help, this is it. We don't take that for granted and we want "Faces of Fargo Business" to reflect that by showing that it really does take a village (whether you're raising a child or growing a magazine).

Don't ever think we don't appreciate that you're taking time out of your own busy lives to tell your stories and help your fellow community members become better professionals and better people.

As always, thanks for reading!

3 This issue is really just one long thank you.

Since Fargo INC! launched two years ago, we've reached out to hundreds of people

NateMickelberg

Nate Mickelberg Editor Fargo INC!

LinkedIn.com/In/NateMickelberg

December 2017 Volume 2 Issue 12

Fargo INC! is published 12 times a year and is available at area businesses and online at FargoInc.com

Publisher Mike Dragosavich

CREATIVE

Editorial Director Andrew Jason Editor Nate Mickelberg Graphic Designers Sarah Geiger, Matt Anderson Photography J. Alan Paul, Hillary Ehlen, Paul Flessland Content Strategist Sam Herder Social Media Nate Mickelberg Web Editor Samantha Stark Web/Digital Coordinator Huong Tran

ADVERTISING

Sales Manager Layne Hanson

Senior Sales Executive Ryan Courneya Marketing & Sales Paul Hoefer, Jenny Johnson, Scott Rorvig, Dan Helm, Chris Cates

Client Relations Manager Jenny Johnson Client Relations Intern Ruth Olson Sales Administrative Pam Mjoness Assistant Business Operations Larissa Kunde Assistant Office Assistant Emily Peterson

CIRCULATION

Distribution & Circulation Nick Hackl Manager Delivery Tom Wegner

Fargo INC! is published by Spotlight Media LLC, Copyright 2017 Fargo INC! & FargoInc. com. All rights reserved. No parts of this periodical may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Fargo INC!, and Spotlight Media LLC, is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media LLC, accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

Spotlightmedia

Spotlight Media, LLC 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo, ND 58102 Info@SpotlightMediaFargo.com ADVERTISING: 701-478-SPOT (7768)

Meet the Team MIKE

LAYNE

ANDREW

NATE

JOE

BECCA

ETHAN

KARA

SARAH

MATT

LARISSA

CHRIS

SCOTT

JENNY

PAUL

RYAN

JESSE

PAM

NICK

HUONG

SAMANTHA

HILLARY

RUTH

DAN

EMILY

Learn more about us at

SpotlightMediaFargo.com

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS 2017

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In 2017, we photographed nearly 200 members of the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo business community. Among them were entrepreneurs, artists, pilots, CEOs, software developers, comedians, executive directors, veterans, graduate students and community builders. Join us as we celebrate each and every one of them in Fargo INC!'s first-ever coffee table book, "Faces of Fargo Business."

EDITED BY Nate Mickelberg PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. Alan Paul, Hillary Ehlen & Paul Flessland

FARGOINC.COM

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2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

ERIK DIEDERICH Director of Business Development Industrial Builders, Inc. "I find so much joy in watching people use the structures that Industrial Builders builds. Every day, tens of thousands of people use the infrastructure that was constructed by IBI, which is not something everyone can say."

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RYAN EVELYTH President & CEO Nordic Needle "There's sometimes a fine line between unnecessary stubbornness and productive perseverance.

It takes a lot of wisdom to know when strategies, procedures and ideas aren't working and then to have the knowledge and courage to act when it’s time to move on or change."

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

MARK J. LINDQUIST CEO Mark J. Lindquist Motivational Speaking "I once had a local businessman tell me, 'I heard your rate and I said, 'He can't charge that much. He's from Fargo.'' It was one of the most insulting moments of my career.

Just because we're from Fargo doesn't mean we can't provide world-class services. I wanted to reply, 'Huh, you run an organization based in Fargo, too. By that logic, does that mean it stinks?' As a business community, we must remember that 'buying local' doesn't always mean you have to sacrifice quality. I speak in front of some of the largest companies in the country and perform for some of the largest crowds in America and I'm proud to say I base my company out of Fargo."

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TIM BEATON Executive Director FM Area Foundation Q: If you could thank one person who's contributed to your success, who would it be?

A: There are so many over the years, but most of all, my wife, Joan. She's always been quietly optimistic and, like my mother, tremendously persistent.

She's always exemplified the saying, “Don’t look back. You aren’t going that way.

ROBIN NELSON Executive Director Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley

ALEC SELNES Student UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

DAN HICKS Commercial Real Estate Broker Property Resources Group

SARA BAKKEN Marketing Director Flom Property Group - Keller Williams Inspire Realty

JANI SKALA Founder Fargo Fashion Week

KAILEE GRAY

JESSI ZENKER

Web Developer FBS

Communications Specialist RDO Equipment Co.

RAEGAN KILLORAN Killoran Family

GWEN HOBERG Office Manager Ringstrom Law

ETHAN & BREEZEE HENNINGS Cofounders Wild Terra Cider & Brewing

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JUSTIN GEHRKE Specialty Shop Manager, Sport & Game SCHEELS

RENEE CHARON Staff Attorney Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota

CARRIE LEOPOLD Founder & Executive Director Inspire Innovation Lab

GEOFFREY ZIBELL COO BNG Technologies

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ABBY ANDERSON Owner Abby Anderson Photography "Photography has given me the gift of being able to understand the complexity of life and find the beauty in it.

It's helped me notice the little things, value relationships and appreciate every day we have on this earth.

It has made me a more grateful person."

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BRADY NASH CEO BNG Team My 2017 low point "Losing a team member to cancer"

My 2017 high point "Adding some key executive talent to our team"

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CINDY GRAFFEO Executive Director Moorhead Economic Development Authority "I want the business community to forget what they think they know about Moorhead and come take a look with a fresh set of eyes. We have amazing things going on and we aren't what we were 50, 20, 10, even just a couple years ago."

MICHELLE KILLORAN CFO & VP of Finance SCHEELS "I'm looking forward to creating a healthier version of myself in 2018. It's my last year before turning 40, and I really want to ensure that I kick off my 40s feeling fit and fabulous — from both a mental and physical perspective. I'm going to work hard to ensure I carve out time each day for myself, which is not always easy to do as a working mother of three busy girls."

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JEFF KNIGHT Founder Cereal The 2017 accomplishment I'm most proud of "Working with Carson Wentz's AO1 Foundation"

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KAARIN REMICH Lead Corporate Social Responsibility E.W. Wylie

ASHTON HANSEN Senior Recruiter Allegro Group

RACHEL PHILLIPS Specialty Shop Manager, Men's Sportswear SCHEELS

DAVID MORSE Founder American Heroes Outdoors

JON THORP Creative & PR Director The Promersberger Company

ABBY BRAATEN Commodity Trading Teaching Assistant NDSU

JAMES HAND Project Manager Richards Excavating

BETH ALTHOFF DealerNET Communications Specialist Doosan Bobcat

TYLER BUECHLER Vice President BNG Holdings

BETH REICH Area Manager - Fargo Regus

TROY DELEON Co-Owner Moorhead Dairy Queen 30

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NICK KILLORAN Founder Great North Insurance Services

CAROLINE KLINKMUELLER Photographer Concordia College

DR. DAVID WAALE Owner Waale Chiropractic Clinic

TAJAE VIAENE Lead Flight Instructor Fargo Jet Center

DON SHILLING Chairman General Equipment & Supplies

HEATHER OSTROWSKI Client Relations Manager Preferencec Employment Solutions

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

RYAN LABARGE Assistant Store Leader SCHEELS Q: What's one thing the local business community could do to help you?

A: Continue to support our business versus online shopping

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ANNIE WOOD Community Builder "People often think it's magic that makes so many things happen in our community. Really, it's the result of multitudes of dedicated people who use creative intention to bring events and opportunities to life (and lots of spreadsheets, too).

Also, the enthusiasm we show is genuine. I get really excited when you show up because I don't want to create events for empty rooms!"

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DAVE ANDERSON Public Affairs Director Sanford Health Q: What would you give a TED Talk on?

A: Communicating more in the old-fashioned way with our voices, our eyes and our personal strengths and much, much less with devices and digits. We're losing something that makes us human: the ability to personally interact and enjoy each other's company and wisdom.

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JON SHILLING President & CEO General Equipment & Supplies Q: What 2017 accomplishment are you most proud of?

A: I'm most proud of our implementation of the Traction Process and how far it has come. It's extremely exciting to see everyone throughout the company embrace it and see our culture continue to grow with it.

LINDSAY PAULSON PR Specialist RDO Equipment Co. What I'd give a TED Talk on "I'm a believer in the opportunity we all have to make good choices. I don't believe some of us have 'more motivation' to do things that benefit our overall wellness. I believe it's all about a proactive effort to make good choices. I would love to give a TED Talk that dispels the myth of motivation and puts the responsibility back on us as individuals."

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TIFFANEY HOLM

KELLY CHARBONNEAU

Talent Development Manager Sundog

Leadership & Succession Specialist Sanford Health

ANGELA DALY Shelter Director YWCA Cass Clay

SUSAN LENSCH Communications Specialist John Deere Electronic Solutions

SERENA & ANDY HAGEL

CYNTHIA MOCHOGE

Senior Technicians Netrix IT

Sophomore Fargo Davies High School

BRIAN WAGNER Assistant Store Leader SCHEELS

BILL ERICKSON

CHRISTINE HAMRE

Owner Total Imaging

Ambassador - Red River Valley Ainsley's Angels

BRIAN OPP Manager of Aerospace Business Development North Dakota Department of Commerce

TAMAR ELIAS Fraud Process Excellence Analyst U.S. Bank

PAT TRAYNOR Executive Director Dakota Medical Foundation

KAREN CARLSON Housing Director YWCA Cass Clay

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2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

TOBY KOMMER Owner Aspire Financial Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: Wondering whether I'm doing right by our employees.

The privilege of helping guide someone's career is not something that should be taken lightly. As business owners, we have a tremendous amount of responsibility to our employees. Our job is to help them grow and put them in positions to be successful not just in their careers but in their lives. We have the potential to have an enormous impact on their lives for better or worse and we must remember that each night as we fall asleep. If we fail them, we don't just fail them. We fail their spouses, their kids and their parents.

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STEVE M. SCHEEL CEO SCHEELS Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

A: Getting back to "normal" in the retail world. Even though things have been good at SCHEELS (and other retailers), the news continues to paint such a bleak picture around those stores that are closing.

It will be nice to see that negative press come to an end for many of our retailers.

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JULIE PETERSON KLEIN EVP & Chief Culture Officer Bell Bank Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

A: I'm looking forward to celebrating Bell Bank’s 10-year milestone of our Pay It Forward program, which gives employees money to donate to organizations and people in need — we’ve given more than $10 million in Pay It Forward gifts so far! I've been blessed to coordinate this program from the beginning and it has changed my entire life.

My main goal every day is to let my heart decide where I need to be and to help as many people in the world as possible.

MARLO ANDERSON Founder National Day Calendar

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

TRINITY SCHAFF Owner & President TrinSPIN My 2017 low point "Admitting I was an alcoholic"

My 2017 high point "Reaching out to the VA Hospital to begin my journey to recovery"

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KARA JORVIG Founder & CEO Allegro Group Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

A: Continued growth!

I'm passionate about people and driven to help businesses grow through the leaders we place.

It's incredibly rewarding to have a truly unique perspective on the local talent market and then pass that knowledge along to companies.

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TREVOR KLEIN

TIFFANIE HONEYMAN

Store Leader & Partner SCHEELS

CEO OpGo Marketing

DANAE MORAN Social Media Manager Twenty Below Coffee Co.

KRISTI HUBER President United Way of Cass-Clay

GARRETT MOON Cofounder & CEO CoSchedule

COURTNEY LARSON

ANDY LUIKENS Recruiting Specialist Border States

Communications & Marketing Officer FM Area Foundation

ALEX RYDELL Licensed Funeral Director Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home

DENISE HELLEKSON Employee Assistance Programs Clinical Supervisor Village Business Institute

HOPE GOLDAMMER Cofounder MINT + BASIL, Lot 2029, & ONYX + PEARL

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HEIDI KING Food Service Coordinator - Moorhead M State

ERIK HATCH Owner Hatch Realty

DANNA RADEMACHER Sales & Marketing Coordinator Courts Plus

JAMES VAN RADEN Founder engageBUILD

TAYLOR KILLORAN Killoran Family

MEGAN OTTO

SANDI PIATZ

Senior Visual Designer CoSchedule

Site Leader & Director - Fargo Campus Microsoft

WILLIAM GALVIN RUSSELL PETERSON Professor of Music Concordia College

Owner & Lead Consultant Giga-Green Technologies

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

JOHN HOEVEN U.S. Senator State of North Dakota "I've always believed North Dakota companies can compete with anyone, anytime, anywhere. That's why we are advancing a pro-growth legal, tax and regulatory agenda to help empower entrepreneurs and businesses to create more jobs and grow their companies. As governor, we took the same approach to help our entrepreneurs succeed in an increasingly global marketplace."

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KELLY KRENZEL Marketing & Communications Specialist Hospice of the Red River Valley Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: People feeling unloved, alone or forgotten about. I want people to know they matter and that this bright and beautiful community is here for them.

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TOM ENRIGHT President GoodBulb "In 2018, for the first time, GoodBulb will travel to remote villages in Africa and provide families without electricity with solar-powered LED lanterns. We'll also launch our first generation of LED light bulbs and fixtures. This is the year we begin to disrupt the electrical distribution industry and change the way people have purchased lighting for the past 100 years. We look forward to the challenge."

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

SCOTT BEAULIER Dean NDSU College of Business Q: What's one thing the local business community could do to help you?

A: Offer suggestions about how we can do better. We sincerely need criticism and harsh feedback. We want to keep getting better, so simply hearing from people on what they'd like us to do, where we're dropping the ball, and what we're doing well would be great.

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DECEMBER 2017

NUKHET HENDRICKS Executive Director Homeward Animal Shelter The worst advice I've ever gotten "You're too strong for a woman. Bring it down a notch."

"You can't let your staff see you as soft and vulernable."

JACK DALRYMPLE Former Governor State of North Dakota

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LINDSAY BREULER Conference Director & Development Associate Emerging Prairie

JARED FINKELSON BETH NOKKEN

Business Development & Customer Relationship Management Consultant Giga-Green Technologies

Owner Nokken Chiropractic & Massage

IRINA SAGERT Financial Analyst Sanford Health

JUSTIN WALSH Cofounder & CTO CoSchedule

JANICE TWEET Regional Coordinator Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

KALIE OLSON VP of Operations Integreon

WADE FOSTER

KATHY POTTER

Cofounder & CEO Zapier

Executive Director Access of the Red River Valley

MANDIE BEGIN Manager - Total Rewards Doosan Bobcat

MATT HELANDER

DEAN GORDER Former Executive Director North Dakota Trade Office

SRG Managing Director & Professional Recruiter Express Employment Professionals Specialized Recruiting Group

KARRI MITCHELL Software Engineer II Microsoft

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

KENT KOLSTAD President & Technical Director Livewire "After a recent hire this month, we're ending the year with 13 full-time staff. In 2014, we had just two. In September, the start of what we call 'conference season,' we booked more events than EVER before, with every week having at least three overlapping, large-scale events."

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SHANNON WIEDMAN Product Design Director CoSchedule "In 2018, Girl Develop It hopes to expand its reach within the FargoMoorhead community.

We want to make sure our programs are accessible and affordable to anyone who feels they've been left out of the tech industry."

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2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

THOMAS JEFFERSON Owner - Thomas Jefferson Agency State Farm Insurance Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: The state of our country. We seem to be going in the opposite direction of being a country of love and understanding. The so-called 'make our country great again' seems to me to (refer) to a time (when) people of my race had very few rights and the future of a good life was an impossible dream.

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

ANDREW YOUNG Creative Director Abovo "The ability to be creative every day is hard work.

Creativity is something that comes and goes and takes a lot of time. In this industry, we can't come to work and say, 'Today we're going to come up with the best idea.' It takes time, experience, spark, initiative, motivation ... It takes a beer or two."

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JAKE JORAANSTAD Cofounder & CEO Myriad Mobile Q: What's one thing the local business community could do to help you?

A: Help companies like ours that have software "assets" get proper bank financing. It's near impossible.

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DR. MICHAEL NOFFZE KEVIN WOLF President & Co-Owner Laney's

Owner The Facial & Oral Surgery Center

FRED BEVILL Stand-Up Comic

KATIE GOEHRING KARN Director of Massage Therapy & Assistant Director of Therapy Services Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness Center

SHANIAH KAISER Marketing Manager Rocking Horse Farm

DON KERN VP of Aggregate Equipment Sales for U.S. & Canada General Equipment & Supplies

SAMANTHA GUST Development Officer Hospice of the Red River Valley

RACHEL JOHNSON

LOUISE DARDIS Former Assistant Superintendent West Fargo Public Schools

Office Manager Hatch Realty

OLIVIA ERICKSON Owner Liv Photography

LIZ JOHNSON Forensic Accounting Senior Manager Eide Bailly

KIMBERLY PIGEON Director of Design & Marketing BNG Team

DAYNA DEL VAL President & CEO The Arts Partnership

BILL NELSON President SCHEELS

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

BETTY GRONNEBERG Founder & CEO uCodeGirl What I'd give a TED Talk on "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Unlock your potential and engineer your world."

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ERIC MILLER Mortgage Loan Officer & Business Development Specialist Capital Credit Union Q: What would you give a TED Talk on?

A: I would talk about the importance of financial wellness. Most people don't know or have been given some bad advice on their finances, and in 15 minutes of talking, we can change their lives.

KARI BUCHOLZ Dyslexia Specialist Haley's Hope Q: What do you want the local business community to know about you?

A: That dyslexia is real and Haley's Hope is here to help ALL individuals through the challenges it creates. There is no reason to not look into whether dyslexia could be the reason for children's or adults' struggles with reading and writing. We are here to help.

RACHEL THURS Market Placement Representative Great North Insurance Services

DONNY GOLDAMMER CoFounder MINT + BASIL, Lot 2029, & ONYX + PEARL

JESIKA JORGENSON Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist Discovery Benefits

JENNA KIRSCHMANN Housing Director Eventide Senior Living Communities

SCOTT HEINLE VP of Corporate Sales ConnectBooster

CAMILLA MORRIS Morris Family

NICOLE COLLINS Optometrist Bergstrom Eye & Laser Clinic

LIZ CAMBRON Graduate Research Fellow National Science Foundation

SANDY THOMPSON Director of Development Plains Art Museum

KATIE AUKLAND Director of Clinic Operations Sanford Children's

LISA SVALESON HERMAN Office Manager Turf Tamers

JULIE HAUGEN Associate Executive Director YWCA Cass Clay

LINDSAY KAYE ARBACH Owner Lindsay Kaye Photography

BLAKE JOHNSON Cofounder & CEO ax-water

ELISHA KNAEBLE Risk Management Adviser Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota

NATALIE MURCH HR Manager First State Bank of North Dakota FARGOINC.COM

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THAN BAARDSON Executive Director Unseen "We've talked to others who had a similar idea (to Unseen) but never went with it. I think it's like travel. A lot of people can talk about travel, but the only ones who travel are those who do."

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JOSH TEIGEN President & CFO Protosthetics Q: What 2017 accomplishment are you most proud of?

A: Winning Entrepreneur of the Year at the ChamberChoice Awards.

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LAURA MORRIS Co-Owner Dakota Clinic Pharmacy Founder Others "My rather opposite careers prove the value of being a true neighbor in times of need and in times of joy.

"At the pharmacy, we get that life happens. We can all find ourselves in need of an early medication refill due to vacation travel, overwhelmed by the number of over-the-counter options or in need of a familiar face with the knowledge and care to help. The mailorder pharmacy giant isn't much good here, but your local pharmacist certainly will be. Build that relationship.

"On a different-yet-similar note, Others is a favorite place for many people to bring their visitors, providing a rich experience unique to our city. However, a favorite spot visited once a year is no comparison to becoming a regular. When the store owner knows your name or has the perfect item that made them think of you, the experience is far more fulfilling.

"Small business is no easy feat. As many retailers are closing their doors, I want to be part of a community that is opening doors, encouraging those with unconventional business models and showing up to keep the spirit of Fargo alive and a little weird."

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CHARLEY JOHNSON President & CEO Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau "We all like to glibly say that 'life is short,' but when you reach a certain age, you begin to understand just how short it really is. I intend to make the most of it for as long as I'm able."

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BRIANNE HOFFMAN Communication Specialist Doosan Bobcat "In 2018, I'm looking forward to continuing my community involvement and introducing to my children the organizations I'm passionate about. I think it's so important to start giving back at an early age."

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ANNA HANSON Sales Director ByteSpeed

LYNN PAULSON SVP & Director of Agribusiness Development Bell Bank

MICHELLE DRAXTEN

ASHLEY BOSH Business Development Manager Network Center

Public Health Nutritionist Fargo Cass Public Health

CAMILLE GRADE VP of Sales & Marketing Myriad Mobile

GREG DIEHL Development Officer FM Area Foundation

MADISON CHRISTENSEN KELSEY SMITH Director of HR Western State Bank 74

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Designer Agosto

LEXI OESTERICH Program Officer FM Area Foundation

DEANNA PINNOW Founder & Speech Language Pathologist About You Rehabilitation Services

JOSH HOPER Director Consultant - Minnesota & Northern Wisconsin Business Network International

SYLVIA LUNSKI Owner Design Direction

ERIN PROCHNOW Executive Director YWCA Cass Clay

ALEXA KILLORAN Killoran Family

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

BERNIE DARDIS Partner Indigo Signworks "I would highly encourage today's younger generation to engage in and lend a voice to the future of our communities. The full spectrum of generational input is important in developing the footprint of what our communities will look like in the future."

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MAX KRINGEN Founder & CEO Tellwell

MELANIE LEE Realtor & Hatch Alumni Coordinator Hatch Realty Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

A: Mastery. I've succeeded and failed, thrived and struggled through each learning curve of 2017. This coming year, I'm so excited to take all the things I've learned and become a master at what I do.

KATIE MORISCH HR Business Partner Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota "In HR, the perception seems like it's always that we hire and fire people. My job is so much more than that. I'm in the people business — helping leaders and employees grow and being an advocate for not only the company but also the employees."

RYAN FRITZ CEO Office Sign Company

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

CASEY STEELE Co-Owner Square One Kitchens Q: What’s something you want the local business community to know about you?

A: I LOVE SMALL BUSINESS! I used all caps and an exclamation point. That's how serious I am about small business. It's exciting to see our community grow and diversify and see folks take the risk of living out their passion through their own startup.

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BRIDGET MCMANAMON Founder Herstory My proudest accomplishment in 2017 "This past July I had the opportunity to give a TED Talk on increasing the convenience and accessibility of menstrual hygiene products in schools.

At the event, I felt like a major underdog and I wasn’t so sure my talk would go over well, but the audience was extremely warm and welcoming and really seemed to enjoy what I had to say. "

STEVE DUSEK President & CEO Dakota Certified Development Corporation Q: What can the local business community do to help you?

A: Ask more about who we are and what we do.

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BETHANY BERKELEY Corporate Solutions Consultant Dale Carnegie of North Dakota & MInnesota "When insomnia hits, it's often when I feel I'm not performing to my highest standard — when I fear that I'm settling for average in one (or many) areas of my life. This anxiety can either act as a catalyst for me to push harder or become a selfinduced Achilles heel."

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FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

STEPHANIE SCHROEDER VP of Marketing Discovery Benefits "I wouldn't be where I am today without college forensics (speech and debate). Sadly, these programs are the first to get cut when universities have to make funding decisions. But the art of public speaking — learning to form a persuasive argument, getting to know your audience and feeling confident while giving a presentation — is one of the most valuable skills I've ever learned."

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AUSTIN MORRIS Managing Partner Enclave Companies

RYAN GOODMAN President ConnectBooster

YULIA MURZAEVA Audit Manager Widmer Roel

RACHEL STONE Founder P's & Q's Etiquette

KIM MEYER EVP & Director of Retail Banking & HR Gate City Bank

LEAH TRONTVET

ANN POLLERT

Site Coordinator YMCA of Cass & Clay Counties

Technician & Career Developer General Equipment & Supplies

REBEKAH SCOTT Owner & Designer Rebekah Scott Designs

AMANDA PEOU Homeless Student Resource Coordinator YWCA Cass Clay

KATIE TULIBASKI Academic Adviser & Lecturer NDSU College of Business 84

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SARAH NIKLE Financial Adviser Edward Jones

PAUL JARVIS Managing Director United Capital of Fargo

JAMIE WEPKING Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions MSUM

WADE GRONWOLD Cofounder & COO ax-water

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

SARA HANSTAD Business Relationship Manager Wells Fargo I want to thank ...

"Darren Dunlop of the FMWF Chamber of Commerce and John Machacek of the Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC. These two have done an incredible amount to help me succeed in the Fargo business community. I think they're both just wired to help others succeed and this only adds to my immense respect for them. Through very few degrees of separation, I can trace these two to so many of my current clients, friends, committees and boards. I've found it hard up to this point to figure out how to say how grateful I am, so I think this might be the perfect way."

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DECEMBER 2017

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

ANDREW ABERNATHEY Founder & Managing Partner Ritaway Capital Management "I live by a saying of Warren Buffet's, 'It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a second to ruin it.'"

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BRIAN JORVIG Director of Operations Allegro Group "During 2017, we facilitated the relocation of numerous people and their families from across the country to Fargo and other communities in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Those people are successfully leading and performing high-level services for local companies, and I'm proud that we are integral in making sure jobs and companies remain here because they have access to the best talent."

SHANNON BOCK Executive Director Creative Care for Reaching Independence

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

JILL CHRISTOPHER Executive Director Ronald McDonald House of the Red River Valley Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

A: I'm most looking forward to the opening of our new Ronald McDonald House in May. This project has been a dream of our staff and board for many years.

To see it come true is an amazing feeling. It's the culmination of so many hours of work by so many.

I can't wait to see the first guest family walk through the front doors!

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2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

RANDY NEWMAN Chairman & CEO Alerus Q: What would you give a TED Talk on?

A: Many people think of annual check-ups as something you do with your doctor to make sure you're healthy and on track, but most don't realize the same is true for your financial adviser or banker. I'd love to do a TED Talk on the importance of annual check-ups with your financial adviser, regardless of whether you're a young entrepreneur just getting started, a small business owner looking to expand, or even a successful business owner who's looking to transition and retire.

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DECEMBER 2017

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

BRENNA GERHARDT Executive Director North Dakota Humanities Council Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: The loss of imagination and empathy happening in our schools — K-12 through college. We no longer educate people for life. We educate them for jobs. We can and should do both.

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DECEMBER 2017

2017

FACES OF FARGO BUSINESS

RICK BERG CEO AdShark Marketing "Letting go and not being involved in every facet of our business is one of the things I've been struggling with. I think this is a common issue among business owners, but it's absolutely necessary if we're going to continue to grow as fast as we are.

Recently I've started to learn this strange idea of giving up control and it feels good thus far. But I still have a long way to go."

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